No destructive quake expected in Turkish resort Bodrum, but aftershocks to continue: Expert

BODRUM – Anadolu Agency

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Geophysics engineer and earthquake expert Professor Ahmet Ercan has said he does not expect a destructive quake to occur in the Aegean resort of Bodrum, which was recently rattled by a series of tremors, but he also warned that aftershocks would continue for an additional two months.

Ercan, a professor at Istanbul’s Marmara University, spoke to reporters on Aug. 20 after inspecting the area around Bodrum, where quakes have recently shaken the Yalıçiftlik neighborhood and two nearby islands. 

“We do not expect a major earthquake but aftershocks of up to 5.5-magnitude will occur before fading away like this,” Ercan said.

“The aftershocks are likely to continue for at least two months. None of them will be destructive, so locals in Bodrum and the region should not worry,” he added, saying there was no need for people to cancel their holidays.

Ercan was accompanied in his examination by Professor Berkan Ecevitoğlu and Assistant Professor Emre Pekkan, and he said they determined around four new faults around the Pınarbelen Kara Ada region, which extended to the land. He said the faults might have been caused by the destruction of over 60 houses and mosques in the region.

He noted that the Gökova fault had not moved, but experts had revealed a new fault in the region and named it “Orak” in reference to the island of Orak.

Bodrum, in the southwestern province of Muğla, is popular with local and foreign holidaymakers and has been struck by several tremors in recent weeks. A 5.1-magnitude earthquake hit it on Aug. 8, after which at least 490 quakes were recorded.

The 5.1-magnitude earthquake came less than three weeks after the Aegean resort was rattled by a 6.6-magnitude earthquake on July 21.

At least two people, including one Turkish citizen, were killed on the Greek island of Kos by the strong earthquake. The earthquake was felt in the Aegean province of Muğla and its districts.